Ninth Grade 2019

"Wake up and get ready for school, or..." said my mom angrily and left my room.

This is my life--with her. She has never continued that sentence, but it's not like I ever wanted to explore what was in the next part, I woke up, got dressed and went out of my room. She had already left without even saying bye. But I'm used to it. I made breakfast myself and when I was done I left the house.

My school is the only escape for me from the nightmares that I had at home. I am not the best student at school, actually I am actually one of the worsts, and this was one of my and my mom's not ending fight's reasons. I don't like school that of a much, but I have someone there, who seems to be the meaning of my life.

He. The only person who understands me, the only person who doesn't need me to change to love me, the only person who accepts me being weird. I'm not wired to be normal. it's me, or it's what my mom made me, I've no idea?

I'm in front of my school now. And I'm waiting for him as usual to approach, hug me and take me to school. And then I see that bright smile of his. The moment I see it everything outside my mind disappear, everything out of my mind seems to be a stupid nightmare and it's his smile and me inside. He comes closer and closer, hugs me and I can feel my heart hammering so fast--fitting his own. It's all going to be over one day, I know that. One day he'll leave me, too. But I try to live the moment right now, we enter the school and it starts again.

Tomorrow is his birthday. I don't know why, but he hates everything about it. But I don't. He's the most important person in my life and I want him happy, as happy as he makes me every day. So, I decided to throw a party for him. I rented a house for a day and invited all of his friends.

That day I didn't congratulate him, pretending to forget about his birthday. Then, after school, I took him to that house. All of his friends were already waiting for us.

"Surprise!" everyone was screaming from all the sides.

I was so happy, I thought he would be, too. But he stared at all of them, the cake, the deorations for a while and ran out angrily.

I didn't move. I didn't know what to do. Why did he do that? I was standing and not moving about 15 minutes. It seemed like I lost the control over my body. My legs and hands were leaving me too, just like everyone else.

Then, I decided to go see him at home. He opened the door from my first knock. I've never seen him like this--pale, upset. I entered without saying anything. We sat down and there was a stupid silence.

"Why have you done that?" --he asked shouting,

"What? Why are you so angry?"--I was hardly not crying.

"Because you know I hate that, my birthday and you did that. Really, why?"

"I--I though it'd make you happy".

"You see it didn't, right?"

"I'm sorry if it made you upset"

"No, you're not! You know why I hate my birthday so much? Because I'm a mistake, I'm a huge mistake for everyone around. No one loves me, no one cares about me for real and you know what's the worst? That I know that it's completely right that no one loves me. I hate me!"

"What are you talking about? I care about you!"--I was stammering and crying. Everything inside me was messing up.

"I'm not sure. No, really, think about it. You're so ostentatious. You're pretending to love me, because you're scared to admit that you're callous, that you can't love anyone."

He was right. It seemed like my heart stoped beating, or do I have a heart? My heart was beating only because I loved someone, or maybe I pretended to. And now, everything is wrong. Everything is over...

I turned around and left without saying anything. That was it. I hate myself.

I have a huge concern that I am a robot--without any feelings, without any love.

Then my mom came home and saw me crying. No reaction, nothing. She sat down in living room waiting for me to bring the dinner.

"I don't have anyone, no one needs me. Why do I need this silly life?" I thought and decided to risk something.

I went and sat down next to her. "Mom?"

She was staring at me angreely, because I didn't bring the thing she was waiting for.

"Mommy?"--I tried to melt her cold smile again.

"Why haven't you brought the dinner"--she started shouting at me.

"Mommy, please, listen to me"

"I don't want to listen to anything."

"Mommy, please, I'm begging you, just care about me once in your life. Just look at me as your daughter, not your enemy, please mommy" And the tears were running down my face.

"What's that?" She asked coldly.

"I want to know why do you hate me so much, please mommy, I need to know"

Now she wasn't the same woman sitting in front of me at minute ago. She was staring at my father's picture which was on the table in front of us. And I saw her cry, for the very first time in my whole life. She is not a robot, or is she? She started crying so hard, she was trembling, Then she approached, hugged me, kissed my forehead and looked at me like that for the very first time. She looked at me like her daughter.

"I'm sorry, baby". she said and hugged me tighter. I was feeling how I messed everything up in her, how I hurt her. But at least now I know I'm not a daughter of a robot. I'm not a robot.

"Sorry"...

Second Place: Lily Grigoryan, Dilijan

You have a growing concern that you may actually be a robot.

I was wondering a lot...like...my mind is starting to blow, and it's just because of one damn thought, it gives me a headache. Everytime I think about it my head is spinning and I can't be focused: everything is literally blurred...Why?....What's happening?...why me? Two months ago I was going to get a new job a the bar. when I was talking to their manager, I realized that my voice began to be like robot's voice and I...like I wasn't embarrased but I felt like I should better visit a nurse. But guess what...I didn't, because I was worried sick! and so confused. So it was my first day at my new job and I should've be focused because my thoughts and concerns were totally killing me. Okay! nothing goes here....I took a step and...my foot become as a silver, then I realized it's somony were my leg then I screamed for help, but no one come! I was so close to the bar table, but suddenly a men come and said

--You better hurry up, Tina! [(Tina is my name)]

--Wha-what? umm... *he left* W-wait!!!

I started to get super worried then I realized my hands are metal!! and I'm reall becoming a robot. I knew it...but...who was that men???...I am so confused...2 hours later...I was at the robot station there were so many robots...Probably they were either human beings before but something has got into them, that made em like robots...I already forgot my past...forgot how did I became like this...but y'know what...I don't care. I cuz' it's all past now right?...I come closer to the others...to talk, but they didn't gave a react...Well, logic! they are robots, and robots got no feelings...(at least, that's what I thought). Someone gave a command and the robots started to work, it's like......they were sleeping with eyes wide opened. Damn, that was creepy as hell. they walked, but I didn't move, My legs started to walk but...I didn't know how. How's that even possible? Then I finally realized--of course, there's a program set in me...For one moment I thought...how poor these robots are, they are just doing some stuff which they don't even know how it works...that is they have been through a lot, what if their families misses them...what if.....and in one second I forgot what was I talking about and started to work with the others...Every time I closed my eyes..I saw the man standing right in front of me...I couldn't sleep, I wasn't able to eat...because I'm a robot now. What should I do? Why is this happening to me...? Find out in the new chapter, which will come out on December 31, 2095 year! Stay tuned! B-B-yye *robot's batter turned off*

Third Place: Nina Mktchyan, Yerevan

You're washing dishes after dinner, but with your soapy hands you drop and break a plate! Suddenly, smoke clouds your vision and a genie creeps out of the plate.​There are many things that I love to do. I love reading books and playing the piano. But one thing I don't like doing is washing the dishes. It was a calm Saturday afternoon and I was washing the dishes after dinner. Happiness was buzzing in the house. My parents were watching a movie together, huddled up on the couch and my little sister was playing with her some-what creepy dolls. It was a happy Saturday afternoon and not even washing some dirty dishes could ruin my mood. I was quickly scrubbing the plates when suddenly I droped one. It was as if everything in the house was in slow motion. My eyes followed the plate, watching as it descended to its death. Closing my eyes, I waited for the sound of the glass smashing to the floor.

The couple of milliseconds it took for the shards to splatter felt like years to me. When I heard the sound of the smash, I expected my moms screams to follow but only silence reached my ears. I slowly opened my eyes and looked down at the glass shards, expecting to see little white triangles laying upon the kitchen tiles. But what I saw ripped a scream right from my throat. There was blood. Everywhere. The shards were covered in what seemed like gallons upon gallons of blood. Tears were rushing down my face dripping onto the bloodied kitchen floor. My eyes were wide, my hands were trembling and my knees were weak. I didn't even feel it until my knees hit the ground as I yelled and screamed for someone--anyone, to come save me from this gruesome nightmare. But no footsteps were heard, no worried fathers or crying sisters. I was alone. I tried to think: I didn't know what to do. That was when white smoke began rising from the plate as if its soul was leaving and trying to reach heaven. The smoke clouded my vision. I aimlessly flailed my arms around trying to find something to hold onto because I had already lost the grip on my sanity. My eyes opened painfully; the smoke was causing my eyes to fill will unwanted tears. I looked around, not even knowing what I was looking for thats when I saw it. Red eyes. Bloodthirsty Eyes the colour of blood. I brought my hands up to wipe away my tears. "Who are you", I creamed in a crackly voice, not sounding very intimidating. "Why Im your genie of course", said the eyes, dragging the "s" like a hungry snake. "I will grant you one wish, think wisely" is the last thing I heard before falling into a deep abyss of darkness

I was in pain when I woke up the next day. My neck and Back stiff from passing out onto the cold-tiled floor. I sat up and put my head in my hands. I didn't know what to do. After many failed attempts I got on my feet and walked to the bathroom. My trembling hands gripped onto the cool metal of the door handle. I looked into the mirror, still shaken from yesterday's events. My eyes were puffy and bloodshot from crying and my throat sore from screaming for help. I gasped "My parents", I thought as I scrambled out of the bathroom, just now noticing their absence. I looked in every room in the house and my family was nowhere to be seen. But everywhere I went, I felt like someone was watching me. I was shaking like leaf in the rain, the memory of those red eyes still fresh in my mind and the sinister voice still ringing in my ears. He told me he was a genie and that I had but one wish. What would I wish for? Money? Fame? My family to return? None of that would mean anything if those eyes were going to follow me everywhere. Everywhere I looked, those bloody eyes would look righ back, taunting me, telling me theyve won and there was nothing I could do. I fell onto the couch and closed my eyes but even then, those eyes were embedded into my eyelids. My mind was huddled withe thoughts of how to escape.

I havent been able to sleep, its been 3 days since the incident and all Ive been able to do is cry and listen to the hushed whispers of the eyes. I cant move, cant think, everything looked so blurry. The couch didnt feel like my couch and the house didnt feel like home. Then it hit me. "Its a dream..." I thought a small smile making its way onto my face. "I wish I was awake. Please I wish I was awake!" I screamed with the little energy I had left and my eyes fluttered closed.

I jolted when I felt a soft hand on my arm. "Whats wrong? Youve been staring at that plate for a whole minute now" my moms soothing reached my ears. I put the plate down and hugged my mom tears of relief going down my face. I looked around. My dad was on the couch and my sister was sleeping soundly on the floor. What felt like days to me, was really minutes. I walked back to my bedroom, finally feeling safe, but little did I know that someone was watching, blood in his eyes.